US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, does not believe that the Israeli government is intentionally expanding settlements in the West Bank and believes that a peace deal with the PA is possible this year, media sources reported on Tuesday.

Israel accelerated the expansion of illegal West Bank settlements, deemed to be one of the primary obstacles to a Peace agreement.

In spite of this, Rice made a remark during a press conference with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, and sdad that she has faith in the Israeli intentions. "I don't believe that it is Israel's policy to increase activity in the settlements, rather it is to decrease activity", she stated.

Rice also stated that she considers settlements an obstacle to the peace process.

After meeting on Tuesday morning in Jerusalem, Rice and the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert released a joint statement claiming "progress" in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Ahmad Quria, announced last week that he does not expect an agreement this year between.

Olmert and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, were expecting to achieve a peace deal by the end of this year, but they recently scaled down these expectations as the peace process is not actually advancing and no deal is anticipated soon. 

Ayman Taha, a senior political leader of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, reported on Monday that the Rafah border terminal between Gaza and Egypt will be closed on Tuesday as informed by the Egyptian Authorities.

Taha added that Egypt promised to open the crossing for urgent humanitarian cases before the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, , the Hamas-affiliated news website Palestine-Info reported.

He also said that the Hamas-led government in Gaza received assurances from Egypt that the crossing will be opened for two days for humanitarian cases before Ramadan, but added that Egypt did not specify the mechanism or arrangements to open the terminal.

The statements of Taha came in contradiction to some media reports which claimed that the terminal will be opened on Tuesday for patients and for those who are stuck in the Gaza Strip after visiting it.

Furthermore, Hamas legislator, Mohammad Radwan, stated on Monday that the terminal will be opened for two days before Ramadan.

He added that the Hamas legislative bloc received Egyptian assurances on the issue.

Palestinian factions and Egyptian intelligence officials will meet in Cairo on Monday, to discuss the case of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and have a new round of truce talks, Media sources reported Monday morning.

The Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper reported that efforts are expected to be made to revive the contacts for the prisoners exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

The main focus of the meetings will, reportedly, be resolving the crisis between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas and strengthening the "truce" in the Gaza Strip.

Islamic Jihad representatives from the Gaza Strip and Syria will be the first Palestinian faction to meet with the Egyptians.

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFPL) and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) representatives are expected to arrive in Cairo as well by next week.

Nearly two months ago both Israeli and Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza agreed to a truce, as a result of Egyptian mediation efforts. The deal stipulates that Hamas will stop the firing of homemade shells into Israeli territory in exchange for Israel lifting the 12 month-blockade and ceasing all military attacks against the Coastal Region.

The leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) stated on Sunday that the Monday visit of US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, aims at pressuring the Palestinian leadership into making more concessions in favor of the Israeli occupation.

The PFLP added that the United States wants to achieve an agreement which only serves the Israeli occupation without paying attention to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Abdul-Rahim Mallouh, deputy secretary-general of the PFLP, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), stated on Sunday that the priority of the Palestinian factions is restoring national unity, achieving a united strategy and rebuilding unified institutions of the Palestinian Authority.

Mallouh added that what is currently happening during the bilateral meeting and aimless negotiations only serves the US and Israeli policies.

He demanded that Palestinian leaders who will meet Rice to tell her that the Palestinian people do not trust the US and its policy, and reject to make any concessions on their national and legitimate rights.

Abul-Rahim Mallouh